Dispensing roller device



1951 E. A. JOHNSON DISPENSING ROLLER DEVICE Filed Sept. 16, 1946 v [n venfor-' by manipulation of the device.

Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING ROLLER DEVICE Everett A. Johnson, Park Ridge, Ill.

Application September 16, 1946, Serial No. 697,237

(01. ill-62.5)

4 Claims.

1 This invention relates to improvements in applicators and more particularly relates to an improved device for intermittently distributing a fluid and for applying pressure over a base by means of a roller. This general type of device finds utility in systems for joining adhesivecoated elements to a clear base such as in sealing envelopes, applying decals and in systems wherein the clear base is first moistened with a liquid and pressure is then applied over the base after interposing a sheet.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved combination moistening and pressuring device adapted to deposit a uniform and balanced film of a fluid upon a base surface. Another object is to provide a moistening device adapted to dispense a readily volatile solvent which device is simple in construction and operation. A further object of the invention is to provide a method and means for intermittently and automatically applying a fluid to a pressuring roller upon each manipulation of the device. These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical elevation partly in section diagrammatically illustrating details of the feeding mechanism;

' Figure 2 is a view partly in section taken along the line 22 in Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate details of elements of the assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 5 illustrates another modification of the slot arrangement whereby the roller is rotated about different axes with respect to the wick; and

Figures 6 and '7 diagrammatically illustrate modifications of unitary wick-retaining assemblies.

Briefly, my invention contemplates an apparatus adapted to be joined to a fluid reservoir and comprising means for mounting a roller adjacent a discharge port from the reservoir, a wick means adapted to contact the roller, and means for rotatin the roller out of contact with the wick The combination including reservoir, roller, Wick, and means for changing the axis of rotation of the roller with respect to the wick provides an apparatus adapted to perform intermittently and successively the dual functions of a fluid applicator and a pressuring roller. The device is of such proportions that it can be held in one hand and can be used on odd shapes and on surfaces inaccessible to prior art devices.

The reservoir I0 comprises a chamber with means for engaging an element of the apparatus, as for example by the threaded portion l 1. Combined with other elements, the reservoir functions as the handle for the device and if desired, it can be the original container for the fluid to be dispensed.

Referring t the drawings wherein like elements are identified by similar reference characters, the body member l9 has a fluid passage 26, and means 21 for a fluid-tight engagement with the reservoir ID, a wick 25, a wick-retaining means 24, and the roller-supporting means 22. Associated with the passage 20 is a retainer support means comprising a shoulder 23 in Figure l, a crimped portion 35 in Figure 6, or a folded edge 31 in Figure '7. The wick-retainer can comprise a slotted disc 24 across the flow area of the passage 20. A top view of such a disc is illustrated in Figure 4, showin the slot 26.

In Figures 1 and 2 a roller 30 is' diagrammatically illustrated as mounted on trunnions 3|. These may be a shaft or separate pins and can be journaled in bearings (not shown) if desired. The roller 30 can be constructed of wood, plastic, natural or synthetic rubber, etc. o combinations of these and equivalent materials. Closed slots 33 are provided in the arms 22 and are adapted to receive the trunnions 3| for supporting the roller 30 while permitting travel of the trunnions within the slots from one end to the other. In this manner the slots 33 operate to shift the axis about which the roller 3|! can be rotated and in shifting the axis, the surface of the roller is brought into and out of contact with the wick 25.

The wick member 25 is secured within the body member I9 by the wick retainer 24 so as to contact the roller 30 in its rear-most position 30A (Figure 2). The wick can be suitably fabricated from a strip of capillary material which is split longitudinally a portion of its length and the split sections separated by about degrees and trimmed as shown in Figure 2. The wick member 25 is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 6 and '7 as being secured by the slotted disc 24 and a locking means comprising a washer 34 in Figures 1, 2 and 6, and a crimping 38 in Figure 7. Other combinations of these elements are suggested to those skilled in the art. In Figures 1 and 2, the cylindrical washer 34 is interposed between the abutment formed by the base of the recess in the lower portion of the adaptor l2 and the wick 25 supported by the disc 24. The washer 5 is preferably split as shown so as to act as a lock washer.

A separate adaptor l2 which may comprise a casting of suitable metal or plastic and adapted to be threaded to the reservoir l9 and the body member 19 can be provided. The adaptor I2 is formed with a central hollow portion 43 having enlarged portion M which includes a shoulder I and an outer threaded portion I5 adapted to engage the internally threaded portion H of the reservoir Ill. Ifdesired, washer 11 can be pro-. vided between the shoulder l5 and the reservoir ID if necessary to provide the fluid-tight joint therebetween. The lower portion of the adaptor- [2 comprises a cylindrical recess having inter,- nal threads ill. The outer portion ofthe adaptor l2 can be provided with a polygonal surface to facilitate the connection of the reservoir with the elements of the device.

In the operation of the device the fluid from reservoir is enters the wick chamber or fluid passage 28 and saturates the wick 25. Thus, the liquid is fed from the reservoir ill to the roll 30jby means of capillary action of the wick. The wick 25. is preferably fibrous and may comprise a closely compacted, degreased, wool felt which feeds the liquid slow y and distributes it evenly over the surface of the roll 30. It is also contemplated that the wick can be treated to control the flow of fluid therethrough. Thus, the

wick can be made more or less water o oilwettable by impregnatin the wick with suitable agents; If. desired, a valve means can be interposed between the reservoir Hi and the. wick chamber 20, for example in adaptor l2.

Whenthe roller is brought in contact with the work piece and. moved thereacross the wick i transfers liquid to the roller which in turn is distributed over the base material. In this operation the axis 3| of the roller Silassumes the uppermost position A in slot 33 bringing the i roller in. contact with the wick as shown in position 33A, in Figure 2. By turning the entire device about its longitudinal axis 180 and rotating the roller, the shaft 3! moves to the other end B of the slot 33 which is then uppermost.

is illustrated and in this embodiment it is not necessary to turn the apparatus through the 180? to effect the shift in the axis. When the apparatus is moved in a forward direction, the shaft 3.! iscarriedxin the rearmost end A of the slot 33 thereby maintaining the roller in contact with the wick. Thus, by a forward motion the-roller is wet by the wick and the fluid is transferred therefrom to the work piece. By drawing the apparatus rearwardlythe shaft 3! is-transferred to the other end B of the slot 33 and thereby brings the roller out of contact withthe wick and a dry roller is available for applying pressure to the work piece.

The fluid in the reservoir can be a -solvent which will rapidly dry and diffuse quickly and evenly over the base. When paper or other fibrous material is the base, the rapid drying fluid reduces distortionof the baseto a minimum. In each case, it is preferred to transfer the solvent to the base with the moistened roller, bring r the dry patch, transfer, or the like into contact with the moistened base and apply pressure with the dry roller.

If the straight slot shown inFigures l and 2 is used, it is possible to' run the roller back and forth either wet or dry depending upon the ini tial position of the apparatus. The embodiment of Figure 5, on the other hand, is useful where only a single pass with either a moist or with a dry roller is desired in sequence, thus conserving the fluid being used and avoiding the necessity of turning the apparatus on its longitudinal axis between each pass over the base.

The-apparatus accordingto this inyention can be fabricated by a number of ways. The embodiment of Figure 1 is adaptable to casting from plastics, metal, or the like. On the other hand, the modifications of Figures 6 and 7 can be stamped from sheets or cut and crimped from a tube. Various combinations of crimping and folding can be used to secure the Wick and the disc-24 or the washer 34 will not always be necessary;

From the above description, it will be apparent that a novel device has been describedand that various modifications thereinare contemplated which will become apparent. to. those skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit'of the invention which is. defined bythe appended claims..

What I claimis:

l. A. manually portable apparatus adaptedto dispense a..volatile liquid consisting essentially in. combination an elongated i cylindrical liquid reservoir having a discharge port and adapted for manipulating the apparatus, -a U-shaped roller support member having a base portion threaded to said reservoir and a pair of elongated legs extending axially of said base portion, an

axial channel through the base portionof said member and communicating with said port, a shoulder in said channel, a slotted disc across said channel and supported on said shoulder, a wick means within, said channel and extendin axially through said slotted disc, said wick means being wholly exterior of said reservoir; a wick retainer means interposed between said Wick means andsaid port, a flow passage-throughsaid retainer means, closed non-axialv SIOtSrlll. the said legs of said U-shaped support, a roller mounted between said legs in" said slotsg said slots terminating at their more remote ends a distance from said wick means which is more than the radius of. said roller and at their less remote ends a distance from said wick means which is less than the radius of said roller, and a shaft means for said'roller rotatably and slidably-mounted in said slots whereby thesaidiroller is guided from a first operative position in contact with said wick means'to a second operative position which is displaced axially from the first position. with reference to said wick means.

2. In a manually portable dispensing and pressuring roller device the combination of an elongated cylindrical liquid reservoir having a discharge port-and adapted to be grasped in the hand for manipulating the device, a U-shaped roller support member having a base portion threadable to said} reservoir about said discharge port and elongated side portions extending axially of said base portion, an axial channel through the base portion of said member and communicating with saidport, .a slotted barrier extending across the flow .area of. said channel, a wick means within said channel and extending axially through said slotted barrier, said. Wick means being wholly exteriorof said. reservoir, a wick,. retain er means. interposed. said wick means and said port a. flow passage through said retainer means, closed non-axial slots in the said sides of said U-sh-aped support, a roller mounted across said support between said slots, said slots terminating at their remote ends a distance from said wick means which is more than the radius of said roller and at their less remote ends a distance from said wick means which is less than the radius of said roller, and a shaft means for said roller rotatably and slidably mounted in said slots whereby the said roller is guided from a first operative position in contact with said wick means to a second operative position which is displaced axially from said first position with reference to said wick means.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein each said non-axial slot is in the shape of a smooth curve with the ends thereof axially aligned with reference to said reservoir.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein each said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 342,484 Wade May 25, 1886 527,049 Close Oct. 9, 1894 753,965 Emmerling Mar. 8, 1904 812,087 Peterson Feb. 6, 1906 1,830,860 Scoles Nov. 10, 1931 2,103,494 Romano et a1 Dec. 28, 1937 2,151,682 Burkey Mar. 28, 1939 2,198,519 Tarr Apr. 23, 1940 

